The CRTC has changed the definition of Canadian content for TV and streamers–but not radio. At least not yet.
What makes certain content officially “Canadian?” That’s been a complex bureaucratic question that the CRTC has managed for fifty years that’s involved a point system. What worked in the pre-internet age no longer works so well when it comes to radio, TV, and streaming. Finally, though, there’s been a change.
After weeks of public consultation, “Canadian content” has been redefined.
Television productions were ranked on a 10-point system. If a program fulfilled at least six of those points, then it was officially Canadian. Now, percentages will matter. The CRTC says this “will allow the framework to apply to the widest variety of productions without unduly impacting smaller productions.” This is better because smaller productions are streamlined and may not use some of those 10 points because of staffing, technology, budgets, or whatever. So instead of a 6/10 score, a 60% score will do. See the distinction?
If Canadians hold 50 percent or less of the program’s copyright, then the number goes up to 80%–which may not necessarily be eight out of 10 points.
Last year, the CRTC said large foreign streamers (think Apple, Amazon, Spotify, et al) would have to pay five percent of their Canadian revenues into a fund that would be used to support Canadian content, including things like local news. The streamers HATED that idea, saying that no fees/levies should go in place until the CRTC finished looking at what it means to be “Canadian.”
I was hoping for an announcement on terrestrial radio‘s Cancon rules, which can also be onerous, weird, and not accurate. That was part of the hearings, too. Maybe it’s coming later. I hope so.
